KEVIN PIETERSEN has earned top marks for attitude since his return to the squad according to assistant coach Richard Halsall, who yesterday insisted he has done everything asked of him and more.

The batsman, axed in the summer for disloyalty and a poor approach to the team ethic, has returned from his spell on the sidelines in an “encouraging” fashion.

In addition to responding for calls from management to give more of his time to the younger players here in India, Pietersen has been eager to put his extensive network of contacts, built up during his time with the Indian Premier League, at the team’s disposal.

Whether that has been getting hold of last-minute tickets for team-mates for the Mumbai premiere of the new James Bond film or putting players in touch with a man who can “take an ounce off a bat”, it has all been noted by team management.

“Organising stuff for the players has immediately brought him into the room more,” said Halsall, referring to Pietersen’s reintegration into the dressing room after the summer of turmoil. “If players want to have an ounce taken off their bat or they don’t have the correct shoes, Kev has known someone who can organise it for us, and it eases things. I wouldn’t quite call him ‘the fixer’ but he is comfortable in this environment. It has been easy to go to him and ask him to sort things out.”

If players want to have an ounce taken off their bat or they don’t have the correct shoes, Kev has known someone who can organise it for us, and it eases things

Richard Halsall

Pietersen certainly has not returned downbeat despite having been forced to eat humble pie. His attitude to the warm-ups has been loud, light-hearted and confident.

Halsall also revealed batting coach Graham Gooch requested Pietersen be more hands-on in the nets, passing on his local knowledge to younger players – a role on which he is keen.

“Graham asked him to get more involved because we are in India and he knows it very well,” said Halsall.

“Playing in the subcontinent as much as he has means he has sought advice from lots of people. He has been able to pass that on. Young players such as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root would be foolish not to ask Kevin about batting here. Graham and Kevin were with Jonny the other day in the nets talking about the minutiae of batting, and I was listening in. The detail they were going in to and the way they were working together was encouraging.” Equally encouraging were the vibes coming from the camp about the fitness of the bowling unit, with Steve Finn particularly surprising medical staff with his recovery from a thigh strain.

Both he and Stuart Broad (bruised heel) will have a long bowl in the nets today in an attempt to prove their fitness ahead of Thursday’s first Test. It is thought that Broad will be fit to play.

“Finny is ahead of where we thought he would be and it was genuinely scary ‘mitting’ to him on Sunday,” said Halsall. “Finny and Stuart were bowling at an Indian Under-19 batsman and it took three balls to get him out.

“Both are going to have to bowl over these two preparation days so that we’re confident they can go into a Test match and can possibly be there on the fifth day bowling us to a win.”

The possibility that Finn will be held back until the second Test is an option. In that scenario, Tim Bresnan, who took 3-66 and 2-13 in trying circumstances in the final warm-up here, will fill in as the third seamer.

Halsall, who has responsibility for the fielding coaching as well as assisting Flower, also said that Jonathan Trott is set to take over slipping duty from Jimmy Anderson. He will fill in at third to seamers, beside Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann, and as slip to the spinners.